TES5 Skyrim AE: civil war quest

Yes, there are still issues with the Civil War quest lines in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition (TESV:AE) without mods. While some bugs have been fixed in patches and updates over the years, the Civil War questline remains one of the more problematic aspects of the game. Here are some of the ongoing issues:

Persistent Bugs

Quest Progression Issues

• Players may encounter problems with quest markers not updating or dialogue options not appearing, preventing progression[7][14].
• Some players report being unable to start certain quests or receive new objectives from NPCs[9].

NPC and Location Glitches

• After completing battles, new Jarls or guards may not appear in their proper locations[6].
• Cities might remain in a permanent state of siege even after the battle is over[7].

Dialogue and Scripting Problems

• NPCs may not have the correct dialogue options to advance the questline[7][14].
• Scripts controlling quest progression can sometimes fail, leaving players stuck[5].

Specific Issues

Stormcloak Questline

• The Stormcloak side seems to be more prone to bugs, with some players reporting it as "unplayable"[7][11].
• Fast travel to Whiterun may become impossible after the Battle for Whiterun on the Stormcloak side[11].

Imperial Questline

• Players might encounter issues with the final battle for Windhelm, such as the new Jarl not appearing[6].

Workarounds and Fixes

While not ideal, players have found some ways to address these issues:

• Saving frequently and reloading earlier saves[5].
• Waiting or fast-traveling to trigger quest updates[5][6].
• Using console commands on PC to advance quests or reset NPCs (not available on consoles)[7].

It's worth noting that while these problems persist, many players can complete the Civil War questline without major issues. However, the questline's reputation for bugs and inconsistencies remains a point of frustration for some players in the Skyrim community[12][13][15].

Sources
[1] Skyrim Conflicting/Missable Quests: - General Discussion - AFK Mods https://www.afkmods.com/index.php
[2] Bug (Dialogue): Civil War - Skyrim SE - Nexus Mods Forums https://forums.nexusmods.com/topic/5637507-bug-dialogue-civil-war/
[3] Trouble with the ending of Civil War questline (Stormcloaks) https://forums.nexusmods.com/topic/7415991-trouble-with-the-ending-of-civil-war-questline-stormcloaks/
[4] Skyrim:Civil War https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Civil_War
[5] CIVIL WAR OVERHAUL - Redux at Skyrim Special Edition Nexus https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/37906
[6] Skyrim Glitch Fix: Imperial Legion Ending Bug - GamerDame https://gamerdame.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/skyrim-glitch-fix-imperial-legion-ending-bug/
[7] Game breaking bug, no "reporting in" dialog option for civil war quest https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/615805-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/61616690
[8] Stormcloaks Civil War Questline Bugs - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim https://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/topic/153593-stormcloaks-civil-war-questline-bugs/
[9] Master List of Known Issues - Skyrim Forums https://skyrimforum.com/forum/threads/master-list-of-known-issues.2491/
[10] DOES the Civil War QUESTLINE SUCK???? (What do YOU think?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEV3hxhXFKU
[11] Don't join Stormcloaks for the civil war, it's full of bugs. : r/skyrim https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrim/comments/13w87k7/dont_join_stormcloaks_for_the_civil_war_its_full/
[12] The civil war quest line and its consequences have been disastrous ... https://www.reddit.com/r/ElderScrolls/comments/v61gky/the_civil_war_quest_line_and_its_consequences/
[13] Civil War bugs - UESP Forums • View topic http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=38581
[14] Unable to progress in Civil War quest line - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/615803-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/62987236
[15] Civil War Questline doesn't show as completed - UESP Forums https://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=28981
[16] Survival Mode Let's Play Episode 31! Civil War Questline! - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOsWW6v1uME

To ensure the Civil War questlines in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition complete smoothly, consider taking the following steps:

Quest Order and Timing

• Complete the main questline up to the peace council at High Hrothgar before starting the Civil War quests[16]. This can help avoid conflicts between the two storylines.
• Avoid exploring areas or completing side quests that might be involved in future Civil War missions[9]. Many bugs are caused by players going through an area before a quest formally sends them there.

Gameplay Precautions

• Save frequently, especially before and after major battles or quest stages[3].
• Avoid fast traveling directly to cities involved in the Civil War. Instead, travel on foot or to nearby locations first[7].
• When reporting to commanders after missions, repeatedly ask about the status of the war until new dialogue options appear[4].

Technical Considerations

• Ensure your game is fully updated with the latest patches, as some Civil War bugs have been addressed in updates[26].
• If playing on PC, consider installing the Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch (USSEP), which fixes many quest-related issues[28].
• Use a mod sorting tool like LOOT to ensure proper load order for any mods you may have installed[10].

Specific Questline Tips

• For the Imperial questline, speak to the quartermaster before engaging with Legate Rikke if dialogue options are missing[4].
• On the Stormcloak side, complete the "Joining the Stormcloaks" quest before progressing too far in the main storyline to avoid dialogue conflicts[25].

Troubleshooting

• If stuck, try waiting or sleeping for 24-48 hours in-game to reset NPCs and quest stages[3].
• For PC players, learn basic console commands that can help advance stuck quests as a last resort[3].

By following these steps, you can minimize the risk of encountering game-breaking bugs in the Civil War questlines. However, it's important to note that some issues may still occur due to the complex nature of the questline and its interactions with other parts of the game.

Sources
[1] Best time to do the Civil War quest line? : r/skyrim - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrim/comments/1svb1f/best_time_to_do_the_civil_war_quest_line/
[2] How to avoid civil war bugs - skyrim - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrim/comments/1fkz16y/how_to_avoid_civil_war_bugs/
[3] Skyrim: 5 Civil War Bugs That You May Have Missed - Nexus Mods https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/articles/51307
[4] Civil War questline is stuck, and all the typical fixes don't seem to work. https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrim/comments/1ham522/civil_war_questline_is_stuck_and_all_the_typical/
[5] Civil War Quests - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Guide - IGN https://www.ign.com/wikis/the-elder-scrolls-5-skyrim/Civil_War_Quests
[6] How much does ussep fix the bugs of broken quests caused by ... https://www.afkmods.com/index.php
[7] Game breaking bug, no "reporting in" dialog option for civil war quest https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/615805-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/61616690
[8] DOES the Civil War QUESTLINE SUCK???? (What do YOU think?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEV3hxhXFKU
[9] So what order should I do quests in to avoid glitches? - GameFAQs https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/615803-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/61391658
[10] Skyrim SE & Skyrim AE Ultimate Modding Guide - All In One https://www.sinitargaming.com/skyrim_se.html
[11] Unable to progress in Civil War quest line - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/615803-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/62987236
[12] Just a few tips for making the civil war questline difficult - GameFAQs https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/615803-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/70799273
[13] Stormcloaks Civil War Questline Bugs - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim https://www.playstationtrophies.org/forum/topic/153593-stormcloaks-civil-war-questline-bugs/
[14] Main Quest and Season Unending+Civil War:Smoothest Course? https://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=40074
[15] Quest order to prevent bugs? - UESP Forums • View topic https://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=38091
[16] Should I finish the Main quest line or civil war quest line 1st? https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/615803-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/61435990
[17] Civil War bugs - UESP Forums • View topic http://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=38581
[18] Skyrims Civil War Questline in 2023 - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b--ENuGPPPw
[19] Skyrim: 5 Civil War Bugs That You May Have Missed - Nexus Mods https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/articles/51307
[20] Civil War quest is stuck, help! - UESP Forums • View topic https://forums.uesp.net/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=37984
[21] How to Fix Legate Rikke Bug (Civil War Questline) - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ-GehNfyL8
[22] Civil War Quest Glitch? :: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Általános témák https://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/619573787270140946/?l=hungarian
[23] Solutions for starting bugged Civil War quests for the Stormcloaks? https://www.reddit.com/r/skyrim/comments/1sp0w5/solutions_for_starting_bugged_civil_war_quests/
[24] [Questline Bug] Civil War quest mess (Solved) :: The Elder Scrolls V https://steamcommunity.com/app/72850/discussions/0/523890681414639046/?l=swedish
[25] [SPOILERS] Main Plot/Civil War stuck, can't advance, Help please! https://www.xboxachievements.com/forum/topic/311981-spoilers-main-plotcivil-war-stuck-cant-advance-help-please/
[26] Skyrim bug with main quest and civil war quest - Arqade https://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/273361/skyrim-bug-with-main-quest-and-civil-war-quest
[27] Civil War questline issue. - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - GameFAQs https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/615805-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/61225951
[28] How much does ussep fix the bugs of broken quests caused by ... https://www.afkmods.com/index.php